Combination tool with ignition tester



Sept. 16, 1941. A. A. GUZIEL COMBINATION TOOL WITH IGNITION TESTER Filed Jan. 22, 1940 4426141140114. Gazz'el I 4 6 v. IIIIIIIJ {I m, an. N 21 2 FM 9M 2 fl 5 2M d 3 6 z w W} 3 MM J 4 1 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 COMBINATION TOOL WITH IGNITION TESTER Alexander A. Guziel, West Los Angelcs, Calif.

Application January 22, 1940, Serial No. 314,910

Claims.

shank fitted with a barrel type handle, in which the handle is fitted with a contact member electrically connected to a filament lamp in the handle in electrical contact with the metallic shank, whereby on positioning said contact member against the binding post of a spark plug on an internal combustion engine and grounding the metallic shank on the engine head, a circuit from the ignition system of the engine will be directed through the filament lamp if the spark plug is in operating condition and the ignition system is operatively connected thereto.

Another object is to provide a spark plug tester with means for determining the width of the spark gap of a spark plug while the latter is in its assembled position on an engine.

A further object is to provide a spark plug tester which is so formed as to adapt it for equipment with supplemental instrumentalities useful in efi'ecting repairs in ignition systems as in removing insulation from electrical conductors, cleaning the grooves in the generator rotor, setting screws in places difiicult of access, and in fishing conductors and other small articles out of small places.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear the invention is carried into effect as illustrated-by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which: i

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the parts positioned to indicate a wide spark gap;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to that of Figure 3 showing the parts positioned to indicate a narrow spark gap;

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a fragmentary portion of the tool as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a fragmentary portion of the tool as seen in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 1 but showing the fishing hook in an extended position;

Fig. 8 is a detail in section taken on the line 88 of Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a view showing the tool as applied in initially setting a screw.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, l0 indicates an elongated electrically conductive metallic shank of rectangular cross section, and H designates a portion of a transparent insulated handle into one end of which the shank Ill projects axially thereof. The outer end of the handle II is formed with a recess l2 through the bottom of which the inner end of the metallic shank I0 is exposed, and which recess is fitted with a screw threaded lining I3 constituting a lamp socket in which is screwed the threaded end of a filament lamp I 4; the lining I3 being insulated from the shank ill by being spaced therefrom and one terminal of the lamp being seated on the inner end of the shank in electrical contact therewith.

An externally threaded nipple I5 is formed on the outer end of the handle H and screwed thereon is a hollow transparent cap l6 which houses the lamp M. The handle II and. cap Ii are formed of an insulating material such as phenol-resin or methal-metriculate, or similar composition.

In carrying out the invention the handle II is formed with a reduced cylindrical end portion I1 and has a recess l8 leading inwardly from the inner end thereof and spaced relative to the shank ill by a wall portion l9 which overlies one side of the shank I0.

An electrical conductor 20 is imbedded in the handle II in spaced relation to the shank l0 and has one end thereof electrically connected to the threaded socket lining I3. The other end of the conductor 20 projects into the recess l8 and constitutes a spring tongue 2| and. which tongue overlies a similar spring tongue 22 in slidable surface contact therewith; the tongue 22 protruding from an insulating plug 23 inserted in and closing the outer end portion of the recess I8. A metallic contact ring 24 is carried by the plug 23 with which the tongue 22 connects; the ring 24 being arranged to encircle the inner end portion of the handle II when the plug 23 is set in place.

The inner wall I9 of the recess I8 is formed with an opening 25 through which a portion of the metallic shank I0 is exposed to the recess [8, and mounted on the inner face of the tongue 20 is a spark point 26 protruding toward and terminating in spaced relation to the exposed portion of the shank It) in the opening 25.

Means are provided for varying the width of the gap between the spark point 26 and the contiguous exposed portion of the shank ill, whichmean is here shown as comprising an internal cam ring or eccentric 21 arranged'in a circumferentially extending channel 28 formed in the base portion of the reduced cylindrical end I! of the handle H; the cam ring 21 being divided for assemblage in the channel 28. A tumable sleeve 29 encircles the handle member I] and is formed with end notches 38 into which extend lugs 3| formed on the outer periphery of the cam ring 21 whereby interconnection between the cam ring and sleeve 28 is eflected so tricity opposite the spark point 26, as shownin Fig. 5. A series of graduations 32 are formed of the margin of the sleeve 29 which are callbrated and designated to indicate various widths of the gap between the spark point 26 and the shank l effected by rotation of the cam ring 21 to cause advance or retraction of the point 80 relative to the shank; a mark 33 being formed on the handle H with which the calibrated graduations 32 are readable. The cam ring 21 and sleeve 29 are formed of 'an insulating material similar to or like that of the handle II. The sleeve 29 is held in place against longitudinal movement by a ring 34 interposed between the outer end of the sleeve 29 and the metallic ring 24 on the plug 23, and which ring 34 has a tight fit on the handle portion l'l.

In the operation of the invention to test an installed spark plug, the contact ring 24 is positioned against the terminal post of the plug while the shank i0 is brought into contact with the engine head, thus placing the lamp and spark gap of the tester in parallel relation with the spark gap of the spark plug, whereby on electrical current being directed through the spark plug of sufiicient intensity to jump the gap of the latter a portion of such current will be shunted through the ring 24, tongue 22 and its overlying tongue 2|, through the conductor 2|, lamp l4 and shank l0, thereby illuminating the lamp and indicatingto the operator the presence of the electrical current. This occurs when the gap between the spark point 26 and shank I0 is greater than the gap between the point of the spark plug. When the sleeve 29 is turned to a position where the cam ring 21 will advance the spark point 26 to av position relative to the shank l0 corresponding to the gap between the spark point of a spark plug the current directed to the tongue 22 will be shunted from the lamp I4 by the resistance ofiered by the latter and will jump the gap between the point 26 and the shank It thus forming a spark in the chamber i8. At this point the lamp 24 will be out, and the spark in the recess l8 willbe visible to the operator; the handle beingfor ned of transparent material for this purpose. The reading afforded by the graduation 32 relative to the point 33 will give the spacing between the spark point 26 and shank III which will be complementary to the width of the gap between the spark 7 plug points. In this fashion any variance in the gap of the points 0! the several spark plugs on an engine may be determined without removal of the plug thereby permitting the selection of such plugs as may be out of condition.

In event of non-illumination ot the lamp H on application of the device as above described, such would indicate a broken circuit in the portion of the ignition system in which the tested plug is connected and this indicating that the tested plug or such portion of the ignition system is defective.

As a means for increasing the utility of the tool the tip of the shank I0 is formed with a pair of parallel spring tongues 35 and 36 tips of which terminate in alignment with each other so that.

the tongues on being retracted toward each other may be inserted in the kerf of a screw 31 as indicated in Figure 9 in gripping engagement with the screw, whereby the tool may be used in initi-,

ally setting of the screw.

The tongues 35 and 36 are slightly offset relative to each other and the protruding edge of the I tongue 35 is formed with teeth 38 having the characteristics of a saw or file, while the protruding edge of the tongue 36 is formed with a knife edge 39 as shown in Fig. 8; the teeth 38 being serviceable in cleaning the grooves of armatures and the knife edge 33 being useful in effecting removal of insulation from electrical conductors.

The outer end portion of the shank i0 is formed with an open ended longitudinally extending slot 40 and mounted on a pivot pin 4| extending across the outer end portion of the slot 40 is a stem 42 having a hook 43 on the outer end thereof, and which stem is turnable on the pin 4| to a position to house it and theihook portion 33 thereon in the slot, 40 as shown in Fig.1 and as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 7, but which stem is adapted to be swung to a position to protrude from between the tongues 35 and 36 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig, 1 and in full lines in Fig. '7 in which latter position the hook 43 .4! may be utilized in fishing wires and other small wire to the shank Ill.

articles from small spaces.

The device is also applicable for use in effectingtiming of the ignition of a combustion engine, by substituting a neon bulb' for the filament -lamp I4 and then connecting the feed wire of one of the engine spark plugs with the shank Ill so that on operation of the engine the neon bulb will be illuminated on electrical current being directed from the distributor through the feed By spotting the light emanating from t he lnalb on the dead-center markings on the engine fly wheel, the flash of the bulb relative to the position of such markings enables adjustment of the distributor if need be to eiiect proper timing of the ignition relative to the dead-center position of the fly wheel and its associated crank shaft.

An important feature of the invention resides in the construction whereby the spark point 26 is housed in the recess l8'and its adjusting and indicating means assembled on the handle; and which feature resides in forming the recess 8 to extend inwardly from the inner end of the handle, then closing the open end of the recess by the plug 23 which is inserted endwise into the recess carrying with it the spring tongue 22 and the contact ring 24. In this fashion the spark point 26 is readily positioned opposite theopening 25 and at the same time the ring 24 is slid into tight encircling engagement with the handle portion H to securely retain th plug 23 in place.

This mode of assemblage. likewise serves to afford a ready means for effecting electrical connection -between the lamp socket l3 and the conductive tongue 22, since by leading the conductor 20 from the socket to an extended position in the-recess I8 as shown, the tongue 22 on being advanced to its position in the recess will be brought into overlapped sliding contact with the tongue 2| thereby completing the electrical connection to the lamp.

Another advantageous feature of assemblage resides in the formation of the cam ring 21 in divided form so that the halves thereof may be inserted in the annular channel 28 from opposite sides of the handle, and then surrounding the outer margins of the ring halves with the sleeve 29 to hold the halves in place. By the provision of the notches 30 on the end of the sleeve 29, and the lugs 3| on the ring halves a strong and efiective connection between the sleeve and the cam ring parts is easily and quickly effected. The slip ring 34 when fitted on the handle serves to retain the sleeve 29 in place and at the same time affords an abutment for the contact ring 24. However, the ring 34 is employed more to give a finish and to facilitate gripping of the turnable sleeve 29 between the thumb and fingers, :since it could be dispensed with by extending the sleeve to meet the .con-' tact ring 24.

The slip on arrangement of the parts above pointed out greatly simplifiesv and facilitates their assemblage, and produces a neat appearing and substantial construction.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction and arrangement shown, but may employ such changes and modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation as come-within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spark plug tester comprising an elongated electrically conductive shank, an insulated transparent handle on said shank, an electric lamp in said handle having electrical contact with said shank, a contact member on the exterior of said handle spaced from said shank, an electrical connection between said contact and said lamp, and a spark gap leading between said connection and said shank.

2. The structure called for in claim 1 in which 65 the handle is formed with an internal recess in which said spark gap is'located.

3. The structure called forin claim 1 together with adjustable means for varying the width of said spark'gap including means for designating the width of the gap.

4. In a spark plug tester, an elongated electrically conductive shank, a transparent insulated handle on said shank having a recess therein, a lamp socket interiorly of said handle, an electric lamp in said socket in electrical contact with said shank, a contact ring on said handle insulated from said shank, a plug inserted in said recess on which said ring is carried, an electrical connection between said ring and said lamp leading through said plug and recess, and a spark point on said connection located in said recess and spaced from said shank, and adjustable means on said handle for varying the spacing of said spark point and said shank.

5. In a spark plug tester, an electrically conductive shank, an insulated handle thereon, a contact member on said handle, a lamp in said handle electrically connected in circuit with said shank and contact member, and means for shunting electrical current from said lamp including a spark gap interposed between said contact member and said shank.

6. The structure called for in claim 5, together with means for varying and designating the width of said spark gap. 7

7. A combination tool including a screw driver having a metallic electrically conductive shank and an insulated handle, a contact member on said handle, and means in said handle interposed between said shank and contact member for determining the width of the spark gap of an installed spark plug on placing said contact member in electrical contact with the binding post terminal of the spark plug and grounding said shank.

8. In a tool of the character described, the assemblage comprising an electrically conductive shank, a handle on one end of said shank having a recess in its outer end through the bottom of which said shank is exposed, means for supporting an electric lamp in said recess with a terminal thereof contacting said shank, said handle having a recess opening at the inner end thereof, a conductor extending into said recess and leading through said handle and connecting with the other terminal of said lamp, a plug insertable in the outer end of said last named recess, an electrical conductor carried by said plug extending into said recess and arranged to advance into slidable electrical connection with the other conductor on inserting the plug in place, a contact member carried on the exterior of said plug with which the conductor on the plug is connected, a spark point on one of said conductors interiorly of said handle and spaced from a contiguous exposed portion of said shank extending into the handle, and means on said handle for varying the spacing of said spark point relative to said shank.

9. A spark plug tester comprising an electrically conductive shank, an insulated handle on said shank, an electric lamp on said handle, having electrical contact with said shank, a contact member on the exterior of said handle spaced from said shank, an electrical connection between said contact member and said lamp, and a spark gap on the handle leading between said connection and'said shank.

10. The structure called tor in claim 9, together with adjustable means on the handle for selec- ,tively varying the width of the spark gap including means for visually designating the width of the gap.

' srnxsnnnn A. GUZIEL. 

